Always Carry Your Scythe

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Oct 01 2023 | Archive Date Sep 30 2024

Description

Trixie D’Vita didn’t scythe. That was Mom’s gig.

Then the Angel Investigative Bureau (AIB) turned up at Aunt Harry’s bar. Seemed the hottest afterlife gameshow in the Mystical Realms was misappropriating newly-departed souls. And Death was a person of interest. When the AIB can’t find Death, they come looking for Trixie, Death’s estranged daughter.

Soon Trixie's best friend is in dire peril. An AIB trainee is traipsing towards trouble. And Trixie, armed with nothing but a pocket-scythe, is plunging headfirst into the gaping maw of a trans-dimensional vortex. So not the evening she’d planned.

Skittle-colored demons. Werewolf drag queens. Hellhound-doodle puppies. Lots of scythe. All in this rollicking, whimsical, empowering adventure.

Trixie D’Vita didn’t scythe. That was Mom’s gig.

Then the Angel Investigative Bureau (AIB) turned up at Aunt Harry’s bar. Seemed the hottest afterlife gameshow in the Mystical Realms was...


Advance Praise

"...a winning combination that will surely have fans eagerly awaiting a sequel. GET IT" Kirkus Reviews

"...lively prose and imaginative storytelling, always with elements of surprise and humanity that readers of inventive urban fantasy metaphysics will find alluring." Booklife

"The humor never lets up and the worlds are beautifully portrayed with many cleverly twisted takes...had me laughing then holding my breath in suspense." Mildred, The Lesbian Review

"...a winning combination that will surely have fans eagerly awaiting a sequel. GET IT" Kirkus Reviews

"...lively prose and imaginative storytelling, always with elements of surprise and humanity that...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9798989277001
PRICE 4.99
PAGES 231

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)
Download (EPUB)

Average rating from 36 members


Featured Reviews

Always Carry Your Scythe by Pip Paisley is a riotous bundle of demonic fun and to cap it all, there is a Hellhound-Doodle. A Hellhound-doodle! If you don't know I am a sucker for any incornation of a pet Cerberus by now then I don't know what else to tell you. A hellhound-doodle. GENIUS!

Favourite quote (one of a great many); "Trixie, can you pass the hot sauce?" Death asked

Call my gast well and truly flabbered at just how much fun this book is. The cocncept and storyline goes beyond quirky (a very good thing), the characters are absolutely bonkers, the pace is screaming and I am all over it. If you have a day where you want a quick read that glows sunshine claws and happy hellfire with lots of sparkles and mayhem from the minute you begin, welp, tadaa!

Absolutely brilliant!

Thank you to Netgalley, and Pip Paisley for this screamer of an ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Was this review helpful?

Wow! Great book!! The characters. The world building. The humor and heart. A fun, fast read. Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

What a debut novel! Trixie and co. had me drawn into their world from the get go and had me laughing and crying at all the right moments. Pip has delivered a humorous, well paced story on life, death and the power of friendship and resilience set in a familiar yet different world. Eagerly looking forward to the next set of adventures from Trixie and friends (and yes, please include the hellhound).

Was this review helpful?

Oh my goodness! What a heap of supernatural/demonic fun! Trixie D'Vita's mom is Death. Yes, that Death. Capital D Death. Mom wants Trixie to go into the family business, but Trixie is not keen on that idea. She works at Aunt Harry's bar and is happy with that for now. Mom is still trying to convince Trixie to apprentice for Death and gives Trixie a mini-scythe and tells her to carry with her always. This gift will eventually come in pretty handy. Unfortunately, one night Trixie sees something terrible happen to a friend and can't prevent it. Don't want to put any spoilers out, but suffice to say she goes to Hell to get her friend back. Demonic game shows, the King of Hell, an agent in training for the Angel Investigation Bureau and a Hellhound-doodle are all part of the quest Trixie is on. Loved that this is a different take on the afterlife and it's a really fun read! Hoping there will be a book 2!

Was this review helpful?

This Young/New Adult supernatural romp through Hell was a fun read! Trixie doesn't want to go into the family business - her mom is Death - but finds herself navigating Hell anyways, specifically a demonic game show under investigation by the Angel Investigation Bureau (AIB). The author has populated the story with descriptive settings and recognizeable supernatural fantasy characters: vampires, demons, angels, sorcerors, werewolf drag queens and fan favourite...Hellhound doodle puppies - all with a humourous slant.

The plot at times is a bit ridiculous and the ending is a bity tidy, but while the text could use a quick copyedit and sometimes the balance between telling and showing is off, the writing is easy to read and accessible. Overall, this is a fun(ny) adventure following sassy supernatural characters that centres on friendship and family, and I'd definitely read more if this turns out to be a series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author Pip Paisley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

a fun and light hearted read. i loved the humour- you can tell the book was written in aw ay that was meant to make the reader smile. though sometimes satirical books can come off as a little heavy handed, always carry your scythe does not feel that way at all. i liked this- so thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I saw this book, and I was intrigued by both the cover and the blurb. I thought, “what the heck,” and I requested it. It looked to be a fun romp, and it really delivered. I found the main character to be really sympathetic and fun, and she doesn’t back down from a fight. Trixie is a faithful friend to Zuzi, and I love how she goes about showing that. While there were a couple of things that weren’t perfect, I found this book so well-written and fun, I didn’t care a bit about that. I’d love to see Trixie, Maybelle, and Zuzi again, even the minor characters. This book is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Was this review helpful?

This was an awesome and super fun read! I loved the concept and the execution. I finished it in a day because I had to know what was next or to find the answer to a previously set up mystery. It left enough open ended that im really hoping it's because another book will be incoming,and ill be stoked to read that too!

Was this review helpful?

This book was so much fun. I loved it. Vampires, werewolves, hell and heaven. Female gay lead character. Let’s have more from this author! Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Always Carry Your Scythe by Pip Paisley is a quick, fun read featuring Trixie, the daughter of Death. She isn’t thrilled by the thought of following in her mother’s professional footsteps and hasn’t really forgiven Mom for leaving her with Aunt Harry as a child. Trixie will go to any length, though, to help her best friend Zuzi, including playing the King of Hell’s gameshow, To the Wheel.

I liked Trixie quite a bit, she is fun-loving, open-minded, persistent, but still struggles with vulnerability. Most of the other characters need a little more fleshing out but since this seems like the beginning of a series, that will probably come.

The plot moves very quickly and has lots of amusing parts, as well as some serious for balance. For the characters, the stakes were quite high, but the story was told in such an entertaining way.

I’ll be looking for more in this series. Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pip Paisley for providing a free digital ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I liked this urban-fantasy book. The characters are well developed and the world-building is good. I also liked the magic system and thought it was consistent throughout the book. The story itself was fun and well-paced. I loved the shot it takes at game shows. I would definitely read another book in what I hope will be a long-lasting series. Thank you to Netgalley and Pip Paisley for the digital review copy.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Pip Paisley for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Always Carry Your Scythe looked like a fun book and I was so glad that I enjoyed reading it as much as I thought I would from the premise.

Trixie is the daughter of death and in the world of this book creates like vampires and werewolves are common place along with the idea of demons in hell and angels in heaven. When Trixie’s best friend Zuzi dies and decides to go on a shady game show that promises to give contestants a chance at heaven, another life, or hell - but usually delivers on a torturous alternative life or hell - Trixie goes on a quest with an Angel operative, Maybell, to find her.

The world of Always Carry Your Scythe is colorful and was half the fun. The adventure was of course the other half but this book is able to have equally satisfying characters that keep you laughing and as intrigued as the plot itself. I’d recommend it to those who like books that are a little different and a lot of fun.

Was this review helpful?

Utterly delightful - this was so so fun and I'll absolutely be recommending it to anyone who needs a good quirky time!

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: